Can anyone play ?
I have been a cyclist for as long as I could walk and got my first trike and my participation has ebbed and flowed through my life although 5-6 years I ago I picked up the pace again, became car free, and have never looked back.
Have ridden road, especially in my younger days, mountain biked, rode ss / fg and cycle through all seasons and 3 years ago was riding at a 16,000 km a year pace and looking to enter master's racing.
And then, a disc exploded in my back and drove material into the nerve exits which has caused permanent nerve issues, left me in a state of chronic pain, and I have developed secondary MPS which can be excruciating.
Could not walk three years ago and my physical health and condition took a dive but slowly and surely I have worked to regain mobility and was able to ride before I could walk with any degree of surety or comfort.
Now I walk at least 3 miles a day when I am able and almost never miss my daily rides of 20km, I commute 100km to the frame shop on a frequent basis, and have knocked down numerous centuries and metrics.
Am on pace to ride 10,000 km this year and my doctor and specialists attribute my health and recovery to cyclng... I have had to adapt to not having full use of one leg and need those damned clipless pedals to keep my foot in place but now people are telling me that I am a hard man to keep up with on a bike.
Little old ladies with walkers can drop me easily but on a bike I can spin like a one legged gerbil on crack and don't worry about falling over, tripping, and most of the time the riding relieves a great deal of pain and lowers my need for mind numbing painkillers.
Cycling is also my business and being able to work in a limited fashion and as my health allows is good for my mental health and I hope to be able to do more if the current treatments is effective is reducing the pain levels.